Forever Giants:1982 San Francisco Giants Year 25 (100)

1981 is here.

My WAR calculation is a combination of Baseball-reference and Clay Davenport; I believe it to be the "best" WAR number available for historical comparison. 8 WAR is an MVP quality season. The record is pythagorean adjusted for 162 games.

1982 – 79-83

C Milt May 2.1 

1B Reggie Smith 2.65

2B Joe Morgan 5.15 

SS Johnnie LeMaster -2.05 

3B Tom O Malley .65

LF Jeffrey Leonard -.35

CF Chili Davis 2.3 

RF Jack Clark 4.25 

3B Darrell Evans 2.45 

LF Jim Wohlford .55

2B Duane Kuiper .4

C Bob Brenly 1.2 

LF Champ Summers -.15

1B Dave Bergman .7 

LF Max Venable -.2

SS Guy Sularz 0

SP Bill Laskey 4.1

SP Atlee Hammaker  .95

SP Rich Gale .7

SP Renie Martin -.8

RP Greg Minton  6.65 

RP Fred Breining 2.45

RP Al Holland 1.2 

RP Jim Barr 2

RP Gary Lavelle 3.3

-The Centennial Giants had a sub .500 pythag but still wound up in a pennant race, getting bounced in the final weekend before a Joe Morgan homer eliminated the Dodgers in what was, to that date, my high water mark as a Giants fan.  A hundred years into franchise history 47 men had 20 WAR.  Johnnie LeMaster.  Jesus - he felt like the worst player in baseball back then, and the metrics confirm it, he's at about 2300 PA right now (with 1100 still to come) and 3 runs below replacement level.  New manager, new GM - doesn't matter, keep sticking LeMaster in the lineup.  Why have 8 guys who can possibly get a hit when you could just have 7?  

Top 10 Starting Pitchers - 2015 MLB

Catchers are here.

Here's my ranking for MLB starting pitchers for the 2015 MLB season.  But first - the MLB Network rankings. I'll revisit before Opening Day.

MLB Network
10. Jordan Zimmerman Wash
9. Madison Bumgarner SFG
8. David Price TB
7. Corey Kluber Cle
6. Johnny Cueto  Cin
5. Max Scherzer Wash
4. Adam Wainwright StL
3. Chris Sale CWS
2. Felix Hernandez Sea
1. Clayton Kershaw LAD

Jividen
30. G. Cole Pit 2.5
29. M. Wacha StL 2.5
28. WY Chin Balt 2.55
27. G. Gonzalez Wash 2.65
26.A. Sanchez Det 2.75
25. J. Quintana CWS 2.8
24. A. Cobb TB 2.8
23. J. Shields SD 2.8
22. C. Hamels Phi 2.8
21. M. Harvey NYM 2.85
20. D. Fister Wash 2.9
19. J. Lester Chi 3
18. J. Verlander Det 3.05
17. C. Kluber Cle 3.05
16. S. Gray Oak 3.1
15. M. Pineda NYY 3.25
14. J. Weaver LAA 3.3
13. M. Bumgarner SFG 3.4
12. Z. Greinke LAD 3.45
11. J. Zimmerman Wash 3.5
10. J. Cueto Cin 3.55
9. H. Iwakuma Sea 3.7
8. S. Strasburg Wash 4.05
7. M. Tanaka NYY 4.1
6. A. Wainwright StL 4.25
5. D. Price Det 4.4
4. C. Sale CWS 4.45
3. M. Scherzer Wash 4.5
2. F. Hernandez Sea 5.6
1. C. Kershaw LAD 6.15

February, 2015 Athlete of the Month

January is here.

Malcolm Butler.

Runners-up: Russell Westbrook, Jahlil Okafor, Frank Kaminsky

2 down.  10 left in the race for 2015 Athlete of the Year.

January - Marshawn Lynch
February - Malcolm Butler

Forever Giants:1981 San Francisco Giants Year 24 (99)

1980 is here.

My WAR calculation is a combination of Baseball-reference and Clay Davenport; I believe it to be the "best" WAR number available for historical comparison. 8 WAR is an MVP quality season.  The record is pythagorean adjusted for 162 games.

1981 83-79

C Milt May 1.6 

1B Enos Cabell -1.8

2B Joe Morgan 2.25

SS Johnnie LeMaster -.3 

3B Darrell Evans 2.65 

LF Larry Herndon 2.15 

CF Jerry Martin -.75

RF Jack Clark 2.95 

1B Dave Bergman .55

CF Bill North .45 

RF Jeff Leonard 1.95

SP Doyle Alexander 4.65

SP Tom Griffin 1.1 

SP Vida Blue 4.3 

SP Ed Whitson .3 

RP Greg Minton 2.85 

RP Al Holland 3.15

-The player most historically similar to Mel Ott, a Giant great turned Giant manager, was Frank Robinson, who became the first African-American manager in NL history.  We also got a new GM in former catcher Tom Haller.  In this strike shortened season, the Giants slip back above a .500 pythag.  The Giants got no hit again, fortunately, in Montreal.

Top 10 Catchers - 2015 MLB

Third basemen are here.

Here's my ranking for MLB catchers for the 2015 MLB season.  But first - the MLB Network rankings. I'll revisit before Opening Day

MLB Network

10. Wilton Ramos Wash
9. Derek Norris SD
8. Brian McCann NYY
7. Salvatore Perez KC
6. Devin Mesoraco Cin
5. Russell Martin Tor
4. Yan Gomes Cle
3. Yadier Molina StL
2. Jonathan Lucroy Mil
1. Buster Posey SFG

Jividen
20. J. Saltalamacchia Mia 1.3
19. A. Avila Det 1.5
18. M. Zunino Sea 1.8
17. S. Vogt Oak 1.85
16. C. Iannetta Col 1.85
15. M. Montero Chi 2
14. W. Ramos Wash 2.05
13. M. Wieters Bal 2.05
12. D. Norris SD 2.2
11. D. Mesoraco Cin 2.25
10. T. d'Arnaud NYM 2.4
9. B. McCann NYY 2.4
8. C. Ruiz Phi 2.45
7. Y. Grandal LAD 2.5
6. S. Perez KC 2.55
5. Y. Gomes Cle 2.8
4. J. Lucroy Mil 3.15
3. R. Martin Tor 3.2
2. Y. Molina StL 3.4
1. B. Posey SFG 4.75